When 13-year-old Eric Parrish comes across glowing mushrooms in the woods behind his house, he's sure there's a scientific explanation. But when they start encroaching on the town—covering the football field and popping up from beneath the floorboards—Eric knows something's seriously wrong. Not that much else is going right: his parents are fighting, his little brother Brian is a little pill, and he's had a falling-out with his football team—over a pig. Then a runaway girl from a nearby boarding school warns Eric that the fungus could portend the town's doom and leave it in rubble—just like the village that inexplicably disappeared in the exact same spot over 200 years ago. Eric, Brian, and Mandy set out to solve a very old mystery and save the town of Tanglewood.
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"So, this book is not the sci-fi that I expected. Instead, it's a mystery tied into ecology and history, mixed with family dynamics, bullying, and keeping secrets. Not what I though, but still a great read. Glad the cover led me astray."
— Hoover (4 out of 5 stars)
" I enjoyed this book. It is a simple, fun, mysterious story that I think would really appeal to a younger reader. I have a 5th grader that I am looking forward to passing the book on to. "
— Chanda, 8/9/2013" Lots of things to like about this book, but my favorite part is the presence of a strong, smart, important girl character in a book that's still highly appealing to boys. "
— Penny, 2/23/2013" Loved it! I couldn't put it down all day... Several great themes running through the book, but mostly just a good, engaging story! "
— Heidi, 1/4/2013" A 2012 Minnesota Book Award (MNBA) nominee. "
— Ann, 12/19/2012" First chapter is near-perfect. Loving this book. Will have more to say later. "
— Laurel, 7/10/2012" The best of Scaletta's books. Fun to see him grow as a writer through his three books. I think I'm just not a big fan of first person for middle grade. It's hard to get any depth when the narrator is twelve. "
— Tiffany, 2/24/2012" A satisfying, twisty, and quasi-scientific climax, reveal, and finish in particular make this story--about mushrooms and divorcing parents--truly satisfying. It's a fun ride the whole way, too. "
— Steve, 1/20/2012" Lots of things to like about this book, but my favorite part is the presence of a strong, smart, important girl character in a book that's still highly appealing to boys. "
— Penny, 9/27/2011" I enjoyed this book. It is a simple, fun, mysterious story that I think would really appeal to a younger reader. I have a 5th grader that I am looking forward to passing the book on to. "
— Chanda, 9/22/2011" My first ARC book. It's an engaging story that will keep you guessing. Will the mushrooms take over the town or will Eric figure out how to triumph over them? <br/>Put Tanglewood Terror on your to read shelf. "
— Karen, 5/12/2011" First chapter is near-perfect. Loving this book. Will have more to say later. "
— Laurel, 3/16/2011" A satisfying, twisty, and quasi-scientific climax, reveal, and finish in particular make this story--about mushrooms and divorcing parents--truly satisfying. It's a fun ride the whole way, too. "
— Steve, 1/17/2011Everette Plen is an actor and audiobook narrator. He has appeared in Disney’s Really Short Shorts, Criminal Minds, ER, and television commercials. His extensive voice-over work includes readings of Mark Goldblatt’s Twerp, Lenore Look’s Alvin Ho series, and many other titles for young readers.